"Worship Wars"

It may sound strange, but the American church has been fighting various “worship wars” during the last three decades. Everyone has their “worship” preferences, usually between “traditional” and “contemporary” (which really doesn’t make a lot of sense, since today’s “contemporary” will be tomorrow’s “traditional”). The individual skirmishes are much more specific: some like CCM (contemporary Christian music), some prefer more mellow “soaking music” of the I.H.O.P. (International House of Prayer) while others prefer out-and-out rock and roll. Some prefer hymns, but those old songs can be done in either a traditional or a contemporary mode. Many are rediscovering older forms of liturgy. And what about country music and southern gospel? And then there’s the “war” between traditional and contemporary Gospel music, including the issue of hip hop and spoken word. I heard of one church in California that meets at 18 different sites, each one with a specific “worship” preference.

But it seems to me that the “worship wars” are not about worship at all. In reality, they are about preferred music styles (and preferred personal styles). More than a passion for worship, these “wars” represent the worst in the commercial nature of the American church (“you can have it your way”). It might be helpful to stop and review what “worship” really is.

One of the most common New Testament (Greek) words for “worship” is proskuneo. It not only refers to the heart of worship but also to postures of worship. It literally means “to kiss the hand, to fall upon the knees and touch the ground with the forehead, to make homage by kneeling or prostration.” This word is used to describe the magi coming to worship Jesus (Matthew 2:2). Jesus used the word when he commanded his tempter to worship the Lord (Matthew 4:10). When the resurrected Christ appeared to the disciples, they worshipped him (Matthew 28:17). This is the word used in the teaching of Jesus about true worship (John 4:20-24). The apostle Paul used this word only in 1 Corinthians 14:25: “So they will fall down and worship God.” This is the key word in the book of Revelation, its ultimate theme being, “Worship God” (19:10; see also 4:10; 5:14; 7:11; 19:4).

Another common word for “worship” is leitourgia (from which we get the word “liturgy”). This word refers to a sacred service and to specific ways to serve God. It literally means “a public office which a citizen undertakes to administer at his own expense, the service or ministry of the priests relative to the prayers and sacrifices offered to God; to be employed in ministry.” This is the word used to describe the elders in Antioch fasting and worshipping before sending Barnabas and Saul on their first mission (Acts 13:2). Being a joyful, generous giver describes this kind of worship (2 Corinthians 9:12). Paul used this word to describe the “priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel” (Romans 15:16) and his life and ministry as a “drink offering” before the Lord (Philippians 2:17). The writer to the Hebrews used this word to describe the worship of the priests (9:21; 10:11), angels (1:7) and Jesus himself (8:2, 6).

The apostle Paul’s favorite word for “worship” was latreia. This is another description of a sacred service of God, special ways to serve the Lord. It simply means “the service or worship of God; to perform sacred services, to serve or minister, to render religious homage or service; to worship.” It also refers to the activity of worshippers more specifically: “to perform sacred services, to offer gifts, to worship God in the observance of the rites instituted for his worship; to discharge the sacred office.” Jesus commanded the tempter to worship and “serve” the Lord (Mark 4:10; Luke 4:8). Paul’s testimony was this: “I admit that I worship the God of our ancestors as a follower of the Way, which they call a sect. I believe everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets” (Acts 24:14). Paul often described his whole life and ministry as worship (Romans 1:9; 2 Timothy 1:3). He explained his commitment to be a worshipper this way: “For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh” (Philippians 3:3). Most famously, Paul summarized the life of a disciples as worship: “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship” (Romans 12:1).

The only real “worship war” is the one in the human heart, and it’s called “idolatry.” If “worship” is assigning the true worth to someone or something, “idolatry” or false worship is assigning that same level of worth to something that is not really worthy. Paul made note of the fact that the city of Athens was “full of idols” (Acts 17:16). Paul warned about believers who were “idolaters” (1 Corinthians 5:10-11). In fact, Paul said that idolaters will not “inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Ephesians 5:5). Paul summarized his warning this way: “Do not be idolaters” (1 Corinthians 10:7), “Flee from idolatry” (1 Corinthians 10:14), and “Put to death…idolatry” (Colossians 3:5). The apostles John closed his letter with these simple words: “Dear children, keep yourselves from idols” (1 John 5:21). If the core treasure of our heart is anything other than God, it is an idol. Removing that idol is our true call to a worship war!